By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – The U.S. Cellular Coliseum operated at a loss during the first quarter of the 2016 fiscal year.

The Coliseum reported a loss of $252,465 during the first quarter. However, General Manager Bart Rogers said that’s less than the budgeted amount of $315,631.

“That loss is pretty much the same loss that incurs almost every first quarter in regards to how our fiscal year starts,” said Rogers. “It started in (one of) the deadest months of arena business, which is May. Our busy season starts in September through, usually, April or May. That loss was less, which is great.”

Rogers said Jehovah’s Witnesses conventions and concerts by Rod Stewart and Alan Jackson helped bring down the loss. It also added to the economic impact the Coliseum had, which was $4.2 million.

“Economic impact is what we strive to try and generate for the community,” he said.

Rogers said economic impact is where the true value of the venue can be measured.

“People coming in, dropping their money not only for the tickets, but on the back end for hotels, restaurants, gas to fill up, eating while on their way home,” said Rogers. “All those things are attributes that need to be looked upon when you’re doing an overall impact analysis on what the building truly means to the community.”

The Coliseum saw an attendance jump of 100 percent compared to the first quarter of last year. 66,555 patrons visited the venue, including 40,000 that traveled from outside McLean County.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].